Heuer: Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools have many strengths, but face challenges as well

Doug Heuer, superintendent of Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools, talks about ways in which the district has been working to accomplish its vision of Preparing All Students for Success in A Global Economy (PASSAGE) during his State of the Schools address at Cleveland Heights High School. Ed Wittenberg/Sun News

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS -- Doug Heuer, superintendent of Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools, talked about the district’s strengths, challenges and goals during his fourth State of the Schools address Jan. 23 at Cleveland Heights High School.

“Our schools can be positively compared with the best anywhere, not just in academics, but also in drama, music, art and athletic competition,” Heuer told a crowd of more than 100 people.

To support his case, Heuer listed many impressive accomplishments by students, schools, athletic teams and coaches in the district over the past year.

“The question is, ‘How does a school district with such an impressive record of individual, group and team success in academics, the arts and scholastic sports receive a Continuous Improvement rating — or in the future system, a letter grade of D on the Ohio Report Card — for the 2011-12 school year,’ ” Heuer said.

Heuer said individual or group excellence is reflected very little in the report card, released each year by the Ohio Department of Education.

“Then why the Continuous Improvement rating?” he asked.

Heights High declined in two areas, social studies and science, but saw an increase in all overall student scores, Heuer said. This increase translated into an improvement in the performance index score by 2.3 points.

Heuer also summarized the results of the district’s other schools on the report card.

“We are continuing to focus on increasing the rigor in all of our classes, along with aligning our curriculum to the Common Core standards,” he said. “We are also creating more options and supports for students who did not pass all five portions of the (Ohio Graduation Test).”

Ohio will administer state testing on the Common Core standards starting in 2014-15.

Focus on literacy

The district will continue to focus on literacy at the elementary school level, Heuer said.

Each school in the district continues to develop its educational Pathway program, with the goal of having it fully implemented by 2016, Heuer said.

“Pathways are our way of moving away from the old rote type of short-term learning and toward more meaningful choices that inspire a passion for lifelong learning,” he said.

The district has an obligation to support every student and help them find their best path in life, Heuer said.

“For a large number of our students, if it doesn’t happen in school, it’s not going to happen,” he said. “We aspire to be a magnet school district for families to remain in the community or come to the community.

“We have to shape our schools to support our programs, and that includes the buildings themselves.”

Bond issue in November

Structurally, the schools are difficult and expensive to maintain because of their age, Heuer said. There are also urgent needs in terms of safety and security, he said.

“This community has been having a multi-year conversation about our school facilities,” he said. “We feel we are getting much closer to a plan that the community can embrace and be excited about.

“Because of that, we are hopeful to have a bond issue on the ballot in November 2013.”

Looking to the future, Heuer said the district’s sights are set on accomplishing three tasks:

“We are moving in the right direction academically,” he said. “The new standards are even more rigorous. And there is a sense of urgency like never before.

“We face challenges but have a proven track record of overcoming those challenges and helping our students succeed in school and life.”

Before Heuer’s talk, the crowd enjoyed performances by the Fairfax Elementary School Honors Chorus, under the direction of Tamar Gray, and the Heights Men’s Barbershoppers, directed by Craig McGaughey.

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